Simon Richards
About Simon Richards
Simon Richards serves as the Executive Director of Computational Drug Design at Exscientia, where he has worked since 2021. With extensive experience in drug discovery and a strong background in data science, he has held various roles at Eli Lilly and Company prior to his current position.
Work at Exscientia
Simon Richards has served as the Executive Director of Computational Drug Design at Exscientia since 2021. In this role, he has focused on leveraging computational methods to enhance drug discovery processes. Prior to this position, he worked as a Senior Computational Drug Design specialist at Exscientia from 2020 to 2021. His tenure at Exscientia has been marked by a commitment to improving efficiency in medicinal chemistry through innovative data-driven strategies.
Previous Experience at Eli Lilly and Company
Richards has extensive experience at Eli Lilly and Company, where he held various roles over a span of 17 years. He worked as a Principal Research Scientist from 2017 to 2020, and prior to that, he served as a Senior Research Scientist from 2012 to 2017. His earlier positions included Research Scientist from 2007 to 2012, Senior Research Scientist from 2002 to 2007, and Chemist from 2000 to 2002. This extensive background provided him with a solid foundation in drug discovery and development.
Education and Expertise
Simon Richards studied Chemistry at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree from 1994 to 1998. He also attended Rivington and Blackrod from 1987 to 1994. His educational background supports his expertise in areas such as Big Data Analysis, Machine Learning, and Computational Modelling, which are critical in modern drug discovery.
Contributions to Knowledge Sharing
Richards is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise in Data Science applications. He has actively engaged in educational initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency of fellow Medicinal Chemists. His contributions include conducting tutorials and presentations that focus on the application of computational techniques in drug discovery, as well as mentoring in Data Science and Computational Chemistry.
Skills in Drug Discovery Processes
Richards utilizes advanced pipelining tools such as KNIME in drug discovery processes. He has demonstrated effective project leadership across all phases of pre-clinical drug discovery and has a proven track record of delivering multiple clinical candidates through data-driven decision-making. His collaborative work with cross-functional partners in areas such as ADME, Tox, Formulation, and Biology has led to innovative scientific approaches.